IMPURITIES IN COPPER

Objective

The purity of electrolytically refined copper (e.g. for use in electric cables) must comply with internationally agreed norms which require the determination of 19 elements: Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, O, P, Pb, S, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Te and Zn. Most of these are routinely determined by optical emission spectrometry, but the results of various laboratories do not always agree well. Considering the economic importance, industry has requested the BCR to certify reference materials.

RESULTS

Two reference materials have been certified for 15 elements:
CRM 074: electrolytically refined copper
CRM 075: copper with added impurities (levels close to specified maxima)
A separate reference material (CRM 017) was certified for S and P (10 resp. 7 mg/kg).
Certification reports: EUR 12318 (1989) (CRM 017)
EUR 14055 (1992) (CRMs 074 and 075)

Programme(s)

• FP2-BCR 4 - Research and development programme (EEC) in the field of applied metrology and chemical analysis (Community Bureau of Reference - BCR), 1988-1992

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

BICC plc

Address

Prescot
United Kingdom

Participants (19)

Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurements

Belgium

Address

Geel

Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA)

France

Address

Centre D'études De Fontenay-aux-roses
92265 Fontenay-aux-roses

Energieonderzoekcentrum Nederland

Netherlands

Address

Petten

FEDERAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIAL RESEARCH AND TESTING

Germany

Address

87,Unter Der Eichen 87
12205 Berlin

FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JUELICH GMBH

Germany

Address

Wilhelm Johnen Strasse
52425 Juelich

GSF - FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM FUER UMWELT UND GESUNDHEIT GMBH

Germany

Address

Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1
85764 Neuherberg

Hüttenwerke Kayser AG

Germany

Address

Kupfer Straße 23
44532 Lünen

IMI Refiners Ltd

United Kingdom

Address

Darlaston Road
WS2 9SJ Walsall

Instituut voor Nucleaire Wetenschappen (RUG)

Belgium

Isotopcentralen

Denmark

Address

Copenhagen

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften eV

Germany

Address

Bunsen-kirchhoff-straße 13
44139 Dortmund

Metallurgie Hoboken-Overpelt

Belgium

Address

Hoboken

Metallurgie Hoboken-Overpelt

Belgium

Address

Olen

Norddeutsche Affinerie

Germany

Address

Hamburg

Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium

Netherlands

Address

Eindhoven

Prof. Kraft

Germany

Address

Kronberg

Risoe National Laboratory

Denmark

Address

Roskilde

UNIVERSITAET REGENSBURG

Germany

Address

Universitaetsstrasse 31
Regensburg

VG Elemental

United Kingdom

Address

CW7 Winsford